Paradise Won:
Brandon and Tiffany wipe out the competition in paradise.
Debaters Make Final Four in Hawaii
Kirkland, October 22, 2008
Northwest University debaters returned from Honolulu with more than the glow of a tropical tan. The team brought home two surf board trophies for ranking fourth at the Pan Pacific Debate Championship hosted by Hawaii Pacific University on October 17 and 18.
Forty students from ten colleges and universities traveled to the Aloha State for six rounds of debate competition on Saturday and Sunday. When the pre-elimination rounds were over, the Northwest team of Tiffany Dikeman and Brandon Schulz made the final round against Loyola Marymount University, Rocky Mountain College and the Claremont Colleges.
Finalists at world style -- or four team format – debate tournaments are traditionally considered second place winners. Katie Berst and Allison Reidmohr from Rocky Mountain College, Montana, won first place.
Other institutions represented included Portland State University, Reed University, California State University San
Brandon and Tiffany speak in final round in favor of the topic: Give war a chance.
Bernardino, Linfield College, University of Hawaii as well as Hawaii Pacific University.
Students were assigned to present a seven minute speech arguing for or against topics announced fifteen minutes before each round.
During the rounds, two government teams affirmed and two opposition teams opposed propositions on the following topics: the financial bailout, organ donation, ocean resources, NATO expansion, women’s groups in peace negotiations, Zimbabwe, and the Israeli – Palestinian conflict.
Top Speaker Awards
In addition to wins and losses, students are rated for speaking ability each round and those with the highest scores are honored. Kevin Botterbusch and Brandon Schulz tied for seventh place best speaker out of 40. Kevin, 20, is an Intercultural Studies and Math major from Phoenix, Arizona, who spent spring semester on a study abroad program in Russia. Brandon, 20, is a presidential scholar recipient and Communication Major from Lynden Washington. Surprisingly it was Brandon’s first debate tournament. He was the only novice in the final round.
Tiffany Dikeman, 19, a Ministry Major from Clarkston, Washington, ranked as the eighth best speaker and Team Captain Morgan Chinn, 20, from Bothell placed the ninth best speaker.
Northwest brought eight debaters lead by Coach Professor Gary Gillespie and Assistant Coach Nigel Reed. Novice debaters included Joe Gannon, Ryan Mathisen, Mallory MacDonald, and Sam Ade.
The final round took place at the Kalama Beach House in the town of Kailua a few miles from the Hawaii Pacific campus. Tournament director and HPU debate coach Rose Helens-Hart arranged for the competitors to enjoy a Hawaiian buffet lunch served by her team members and a hula presentation by three graduate students in Hawaiian studies prior to the final round.
The proposition for the final round was “This house would give war a chance.” Northwest was opening government.
After receiving their surf board trophies, the team enjoyed wading barefoot along the white sands of Kailua beach before celebrating at dinner at Buzz’s Steak House.
In addition to the debates, students took part in a training session for a total of twelve hours of academic preparedness.
The Northwest University team flew to Honolulu two days before the competition to adjust to the climate and enjoy the “hang loose” culture of Hawaii. Team building activities included visiting the Pearl Harbor Memorial and the Polynesian Cultural Center and hiking at Diamond Head Crater and Waimea Falls. Some students tried surfing on Waikiki and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Temperatures ranged in the low 80s throughout the visit.
The trip was partly paid for by funds donated to the team by alumni and supporters. Students also paid a fee that covered some of their costs for their adventure in paradise.
Looking Ahead
The next tournament for the Northwest Eagle Debate Team will be the Smelt Classic at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Washington on November 7 and 8. Other tournaments on the calendar this fall include meet at the University of British Columbia and Portland State University.
The team is raising funds to attend the World Universities Debating Championships next year to be held on the Mediterranean Coast in Turkey after Christmas 2009.
More about Northwest Eagle Debate Team.
Gary Gillespie
Actual Itinerary Wednesday, October 15, 2008 6:00 AM Meet Crowder Hall 8:17 AM Leave Seattle, Northwest 219
11:16 AM Arrive HONOLULU, HI
12:00 PM Pick up rental van. BUDGET RENT A CAR
1:00
PM Check in
Queen Kapiolani Hotel
You may want to buy a lower cost
Hawaiian shirt at the
ABC store near by. It would be cool to wear these in debate rounds.
1:15 Lunch at Teddy's Burgers next door on your own.
3:00 PM Explore Waikiki, go swimming, water boarding, surfing, shop, see
fine hotels, run, walk or work out at Kapiolani Park, nap on beach.
5:30 PM Meet in lobby to walk to Tiki's Grill for group dinner. Dress in Hawaii garb. Be prepared to discuss possible debate topics at dinner. After dinner we will walk to find shaved ice for desert.
Evening free. We are in a big city, so practice safety by walking in groups.
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Thursday, 16 11:30 AM After Pearl we will continue up the middle of the island to the North Shore for lunch in Haleiwa (pay on your own.) For desert we will go to Matsumoto's in Haleiwa for a famous Hawaiian treat -- shaved ice.
1:30 PM
Arrive Waimea
Falls for hike.
Return
Hotel about 11 PM. |
Saturday, 18
7:45 AM Depart hotel for HPU campus and debate rounds. Schedule listed
below. Lunch included.
6:00 PM Group dinner included at Zippys
http://www.zippys.com/ on the way home.
Evening free.
Sunday, 19
7:45 AM depart hotel for HPU campus and debate rounds. Lunch included.
4:00 PM after winning awards, we will celebrate with dinner at
Buzz's Steak House in Kailua.
8:00 PM Return to hotel.
Rest of evening free.
Monday, 20
9:45 AM Bags in lobby.
10:00 AM Depart hotel for airport.
1:10 PM LV HONOLULU, HI NORTHWEST
AIRL FLT: 220
9:56 PM Arrive Seattle
11:30 PM Return to campus.